Granville Island Shopping, Vancouver

This store is so unique. I'm not sure there's anything else like it anywhere and I've traveled a lot. I live in Vancouver and go here regularly. It used to be called Justin Stitches but they've changed the name to MAKE. They have really fun gifts and you can bring your creativity and create your own gifts. They have lots of stock designs you can have embroidered on hats, aprons, clothing, towels, tshirts, even bring your own item in. They have big industrial type embroidery machines right in the store.

You can also get a myriad of designs printed direct to t-shirts and other fabric items. Take a photo right from your camera card and have it printed on a shirt to take home as a present from your trip! They do this right in the store too on a high tech printer.

Kids can draw their own designs on paper and have it put on a pin-on button. If you're on Granville Island, be sure to check them out.

What to buy: custom printed tshirts, embroidered hat or embroidered clothing, unique gifts from local artist as well as other countries.

What to pay: $20 - $200

Although Maiwa is noted for clothing and bedding, much of it is handprinted with the hardwood blocks that are themselves for sale, and which make beautiful and very unusual works of art. These blocks are made of teak or seasum. "A single rectangular design, as for a bedspread, requires an entire set of blocks, carved so that the image fits together like an elaborate puzzle." I found so many things that I wanted to purchase that I finally had to turn my attention to the fabrics imprinted by the blocks, which were easier to pack into my luggage!

What to buy: Bring home at least one specimen block, and amaze your friends.

What to pay: The blocks were quite reasonably priced. Even substantial ones, really works of art, were $20 (Canadian) or less.

The website, says: "You'll find handcrafted shoes, tailor-made eyeglasses, and custom-built kayaks; wooden musical instruments, high-craft blown glass, ceramic and woodwork treasures; gardening gear, dragon things, leather crafts, fishing reels, and one-of-a-kind toys: just a small spattering of what's in store for Island shoppers", and I addgroceries.

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The Farmer's Market was a bit pricey but beautiful to walk through nonetheless...

What to buy: I found beautiful Native Artwork to hang on my walls back home.

What to pay: Since the tourist buses stop here, expect to pay a little more...

If you're looking for seafood there a number of great places scattered throughout Granville Island. But you might want to try walking off of the island, turning right and strolling over to the government docks.

I don't know the hours but they seem to be open during most daylight hours. They offer various kinds of fish and shellfish.

What to pay: If you do ever buy from one of the boats docked here please drop me a line about the prices they offer.

We all know that American aficionados pick up Cuban cigars when they come to Canada. But the other thing American aficionados can't get at home are fresh, unpasteurized cheeses. The rule is specifically that you cannot sell unpasteurized cheese less than 60 days old in the US. But you can in Canada, and you don't have to go to Montreal to get it. On the west coast, Les Amis de Fromage has such products, along with a vast array of other great cheeses, both local and global. They appear to be the only supplier of Neal's Yard cheeses in Vancouver, which if you know your English farmhouse cheeses is a very good thing. Of course, all the smelly French stuff is there, plus a good array of pecorinos and Spanish goat & sheep products. They also have a kitchen that does prepared meals, plus a few other products for the foodie market (like 2 types of smoked paprika, one of the world's greatest spices)

What to buy: Cheese. If you're American, especially the fresh unpasteurized stuff.

What to pay: About the same as other cheese shops of the same calibre.

The highlight of GRANVILLE ISLAND is the Granville Island Public Market. Inside you will find an array of fresh fruits and vegetables, bakeries, seafood, etc. Outdoor patios and walkways offer plenty of places to sit and enjoy the scenery.

What to buy: On Granville Island there is an array of marine supply shops serving the boats moored at the marina.

I've never seen such a wide assortment of fresh oysters, lobsters, and crabs as at the Lobster Man. They have a fairly large facility and are so able to equip it with large water tanks from which you can pick out the precise items yourself.